Welcome to
Pre-RhyPiBoMo 2015
Tanja Bauerle
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Starting things off for this year is my friend, illustrator and children’s writer Tanja Bauerle. She is the talented artist who created the beautiful banner, pledge, badges and all the art you see here. I asked her to create a banner with a young Maya Angelou on it and art relating to her work. I think she nailed it! I could not love it more!
Please join me in welcoming her to get us started and
thank you Tanja for your gorgeous artwork for RhyPiBOMo 2015!
RAINBOW IN YOUR CLOUD
By Tanja Bauerle
Oh, the butterflies! What a daunting task to be the opening guest blogger for Angie Karcher’s RhyPiBoMo this year! Ann Whitford Paul, Kwame Alexander, and my dear friend Diane White, are but a few of the authors that will share their wisdom and talents with us this April. We are in for some delectable treats in the coming weeks.
Angie and I met a few years ago while taking some online writing classes together. Of course, we became fast friends. Last year, at the SCBWI LA Conference, Dawn Young, my fellow AZ buddy, and I shared an ambulance ride to the emergency room with Angie, after she skewered her hand with a wine glass. We had quite the adventurous evening and I still have some interesting photos of the inside of Angie’s hand. Needless to say, after such a traumatic time together we will be sisters for life.
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I am a writer and illustrator of picture books. My illustrations have been published in several books but I cannot call myself an author yet, seeing that I am still journeying down the path of having my writing published. During one of our chats, Angie told me that her poet of choice for RhyPiBoMo this year is the magnificent Maya Angelou. When she asked me to create the logo for RhyPiBoMo this year, of course I jumped at the chance.
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Selecting only one of Maya Angelou’s inspirational quotes to guide the visuals would prove quite the challenge. In researching her extensive body of work, one can’t help but be awed by Mrs. Angelou’s philosophy of life. In addition to being a phenomenal writer, Maya Angelou was an even more exceptional person.
Strangely, Angie and I independently favored the same quote even before we talked about it.
We both chose:
“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.”
– Maya Angelou
This quote spoke to us because it is so apt for writers. Writers write because they simply need to write. Freeing your inner writer and letting your writing soar is what this month is all about.
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RhiPiBoMo will shower you with inspiration; it will open up the world of rhyme and poetry to you; but most of all it will introduce you to a community of fellow writers and rhymers that share a similar journey.
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Another one of my favorite Maya Angelou quotes is:
“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
– Maya Angelou
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This quote touched me because I have always been a cheerleader to my fellow illustrators and writers. During last year’s RhyPiBoMo, participants were divided into critique groups. I was assigned to my group at random. Today, a year later, our critique group is still actively critiquing and supporting each other. These ladies have truly been a rainbow on my cloud as I journey though the evolution of my various manuscripts. Thank you RhiPiBoMo for this incredible support system for not only my writing but also life’s other ups and downs. Thank you to my fellow moonies for your wisdom, love and support over this past year. It is so refreshing to find other cheerleaders in this industry that can be riddled with rejection.
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As RhyPiBoMo motivates you this month through various articles and posts, I encourage you to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud. In addition to honoring Maya Angleou’s writing, I endeavor to take this opportunity to mirror the person that Maya was. Her humility, compassion and honesty are truly humbling. If more people lived by her convictions the world would be a much better place. I will leave you with some of my favorite pearls to live by from Maya Angleou and hope that they will touch you the same way that they did me.
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I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.
– Maya Angelou
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I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
– Maya Angelou
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I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.
– Maya Angelou
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I’ve learned that People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but People will never forget how you made them feel.
– Maya Angelou
^
You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.
– Maya Angelou
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Happy creating to you all.
Tanja Bauerle
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About Tanja:
Tanja Bauerle, an award-winning children’s book illustrator, escaped many years in the corporate arena of design to pursue her love for children’s book illustration. Originally from Germany, Tanja grew up outside Melbourne, Australia, and now lives near Phoenix, Arizona, with her family and her menagerie of cats, chickens, a horse and two alpacas. To date she has illustrated three picture books and is continuing to illustrate the “Wright on Time” middle grade series. Tanja is currently focusing on writing and illustrating her own picture books. She is an SCBWI member is actively involved in several online writing and illustrating communities.
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You can connect with Tanja through:
Website: http://www. tanjabauerle.com/
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RhyPiBoMo 2015 Optional Writing Prompt:
This is NOT part of the pledge. It is an optional writing exercise for those interested. You will not publically share this as part of RhyPiBoMo but may keep a personal journal of your writing this month.
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Write a Haiku poem titled : A Rainbow in the Cloud
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A Haiku is a short poem that uses sensory language to capture a feeling or an image. The syllables of each line follow a strict pattern
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First line: 5 syllables
Second line: 7 syllables
Third line: 5 syllables
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For example:
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Fluffy islands float
Vacation from the raindrops
A bridge to sunshine
© 2015 Angie Karcher
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Please comment below. You MUST add your FIRST and LAST names
to be eligible for today’s prize!
Angie Karcher 
This is where you comment! Make sure to add your first and last name to be eligible for today’s prize!
Pat Likins
Love the Maya Angelou quotes, and excited about this month. Thank you!
Thank you! Maya Angelou is truly and inspiration. T.
Thanks for the pep talk, Tanja! CARRIE CHARLEY BROWN is fired up and ready to create! Thanks for RhyPiBoMo, Angie!
I’m so glad you are here and ready to play with words! You need to go to bed now. I KNOW you are tired!
🙂 We are in for a splendid month. T
Thank you Tanja and Angie, Judy Rubin is stepping out of the cloud and riding the rainbow. Hopefully, rhyme comes in time. (Or is that thyme?)
Loving that rainbow ride, I hope we don’t collide. Ok, so my rhyme is somewhat feeble, but that’s why I’m here. 🙂 T.
So happy to ride the rhyming rainbow with you Judy!
Dear dear Tanja…thank you for the sweet words about our incredible critique group. One of my favorite Maya Angelou quotes is the one about people remembering how you make them feel…and you, Tanja, always make people feel positive about their work. Thank so much, Angie…Day One of RhyPiBoMo…hip hip hooray!
Vivian Kirkfield
Viv, right back at you. I really do feel that my moonies are my own personal cheerleaders. Plus your feedback during critiques has elevated by writing tremendously over the past year. THANK YOU. Many, many hugs to you and our group. 🙂
Vivian, Thanks for all your love and constant support! Can’t wait to hug you at WOW this summer!
What a way to start! Rita Antoinette Borg is SO glad to have found you Angie Karcher. I am going to write my frist ever haiku.
Whoohooo! Happy haiku-ing. 🙂
I’m so glad you are here too Rita!
Kristi Dee Veitenheimer is so excited to be a part of RhyPiBoMo again this year! Thanks to Tanja for inspiring us in the first post and to Angie for posting this so very early in the day!
Thank you Kristi. You will love this next month. 🙂 T.
I’m happy to keep my rhyming early birds happy!
Aimee Haburjak~
Thank you Angie and Tanja for getting us started with beautiful inspiration!
We all have a song to sing or story to tell, how inspiring to be more like a bird and share beautiful words freely. Looking forward to the month.
Thank you. Happy writing to you. T
So happy you are here again this year Ms. Aimee! Hugz!
Tanja what a wonderful way to begin the RhyPiBoMo. I am so excited to have found you this year! Off to work on my Haiku.
Maria Marshall
🙂 You will love the info and the community. RhyPiBoMo-ers are a great bunch of people. 🙂
Heather B. Moon is so excited to be a participant in RhyPiBoMo 2 this month.I love Maya’ s quote ‘ I’ve learned I still have a lot to learn’ That is so true! Thank you Angie and Tanja for getting us started.
I know what you mean. To have someone of Maya Angelou’s calibre say that she still has a lot to learn is truly humbling. Great thing is that this month is filled with writing lessons. 🙂 Have a great month. T.
Hi Heather! Happy to have those across the pond represented again this year! Hugs!
Elaine Hillson – Thank you Angie and Tanja for a wonderful start to RhyPiBoMo. I’m looking forward to being a part of this. I love the fact I will never stop learning something new.
You will love it. T
Amy Moore –
Thank you, Tanja, for the beautiful artwork and inspiration for the month ahead. I am so looking forward to April!
Thank you, Amy.
Amy Moore is excited and ready to go. Thank you so much, Tanja, for the beautiful artwork and inspiration. I am so looking forward to April!
MaDonna Maurer is glad to be joining this group this year! I love the quotes, so touching – and your artwork is just beautiful. Thanks for starting this month off with such energy!
Thank you, MaDonna. You will love this next month. T
Linda Schueler: I love these Maya Angelou quotes. What a great way to start.
It was difficult to narrow down the list of quotes. 🙂
Barbara Siemen. A Rainbow in the Cloud is such a beautiful idea. I haven’t written a haiku since high school…this will be fun!
That’s exactly what I thought. 🙂
Lori Mozdzierz:
Tanja,
Beautiful artwork! I too am a Maya Angelou fan. She was a spiritual woman who continues to inspire so many. As you, my rhyming critique group from RhyPiBoMo 2014 (Sneetches) is still active.
Aahhh, so you know exactly how I feel about my Moonies. 🙂 I wonder if Ms. Angelou knew just how many life’s she has touched and improved.
What an inspiring start to RhyPiBoMo!! I am so looking forward to this challenge!!! “) I love these quotes-beautiful! Caroline Twomey
🙂 Thank you.
What a lovely way to start a Monday morning.
🙂
Manju Howard: Tanja, Thank you for sharing your inspiring artwork and thoughts. I love Maya Angelou’s poetry (And Still I Rise) and words. One of my favorite quotes, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” This quote stopped me from belittling myself for the quality of writing I used to do. And I’m excited about learning how to do even better.
Thank you Manju. What a great quote. It just goes to she, that there is always room for improvement. 🙂
What a great way to begin RhyPiBoMo! Love Maya’s quotes – very inspiring.
🙂
Thank you Tanja & Angie from Jan Godown Annino –
Appreciations for the many quotes from Maya Angelou. My joy is not only to have read I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, but to have sat at her feet twice, when she spoke on stages in our town. She was thrilling to see present poetry – a true diva in the best sense.
Before RhyPiBoMo I didn’t know of Tanja’s artistry & so I’m delighted to meet you Tanja & will add this connection – Tucson! Spent an important long sojourn there as a child & today many longtime relatives live in that historic city.
Angie & Tanja – appreciations for this Haiku extra. “A bridge to sunshine” is so fitting a closing line for the message of the Maya Angelou quotes shared here.
Brava, all around!
Hi Jan, Thank you so much for the compliments. I wish I would have had the opportunity to see one of Maya’s programs. That would have been an life moment for me. T
I’m so happy to have you join us on this glorious journey in April! Thanks for the kind words and what I would give to have heard Maya speak in person…life changing I’m sure.
PJ McIlvaine nice!
🙂
Nancy Mindo here!!!! This was just the blog post i needed this morning to get me motivated to finish up the rhyming book i am writing now… I love that paragraph that explains to be a rainbow in someone else’s clouds… I am always looking for friends and support through the various groups i have joined as a writer, i love this community and hope for the best in the future.. Happy Rhyming Everyone!!!
I am so glad that you found inspiration in my little post. I love the idea to helping brightening someone else’s day as it is so meaningful to me when someone extends a genuine arm of friendship and support. You will love this group. T.
Val McCammon notes that beautiful art and inspiring quotes are an inspiring way to start the day. Thanks, Tanja and Angie.
You are welcome.
Hey Val! I’m so glad you are here this year! I can’t wait for our ride to Georgia together in July…we have so much to talk about! = )
Wonderful post and inspirations from you and Maya Angelou. Thank you!
🙂 Hugs.T
Pat Haapaniemi – What a great beginning! So much inspiration in those quotes!
🙂 Thank you. T
Melinda Kinsman –
RYE PI BO MO has now begun,
I’m glad I’m here to join the fun!
Thanks for a great start, Tanja.😊
I loved your Haiku, Angie.❤️
I think Maya Angelou’s quote “I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn” really sums up how I felt at last year’s event, and how I continue to feel about writing in rhyme.
🙂
Thanks so much Melinda! I’m glad you decided to join us again! You know how much fun we had last year!
Melinda Kinsman –
RYE PI BO MO has now begun,
I’m glad I’m here to join the fun!
Thanks for a great start, Tanja.😊
I loved your Haiku, Angie.❤️
I think Maya Angelou’s quote “I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn” really sums up how I felt at last year’s event, and how I continue to feel about writing in rhyme.
Just having a second go at leaving my comment – sorry if you get 2, Angie, but my iPad is conspiring against me, and wished me to be logged onto WordPress as my cuddly toy cowriter! I’m still not sure if my comment worked…
it worked. 🙂
Joanne Sher is VERY excited to get started (hoping I can catch my breath after ReFoReMo for a moment, but knowing me, that is HIGHLY unlikely :D). Love the quote about pain – sounds like something I would say. Thanks for designing all the awesome stuff. LOVE it.
Thanking you muchly! 🙂
I am excited to begin this journey. There’s always time for rhyme. Maya is an absolute treasure.
So true.
Great way to kick off an exciting month! Thank you! – Jessie Miller
🙂
Thanks Tanya. Wonderful Maya A. quotes with which to start the day.
Maya is such a treasure!
Thank you for the inspiring quotes and this amazing opportunity!
🙂
Iza Trapani
Thank you Angie and Tanja! I look forward to all the fun, learning and inspiration this next month!
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Thanks for being an honored Golden Quill Guest Blogger this year Iza! I appreciate your support and happy we found each other!
Ann Kelley
So so excited! I love the illustrations, quotes and Maya! I am glad that someone recommended RhyPiBoMo to me.
Thank you 🙂
Rachel Hamby
Love the idea of a daily writing prompt, fun! Thanks Tanja for your artwork and all the Maya Angelou quotes, very inspiring.
Thank you Rachel. 🙂
I’m glad you are excited about the writing prompst! They will be simple and fun and will hopefully keep our creative juices flowing!
Kathy Mazurowski
Fresh new pages in my book for RhyPiBoMo. The artwork is inspiring as well as Maya Angelou’s wise words.
🙂
Thank you Angie and thank you,Tanya, for such uplifting words! A great way to start off the week!
🙂
Jill Proctor
We’re off and running. Thank you, Angie, for all your hard work. And thank you, Tanja, for your lovely words…and those of Maya Angelou!
Thank you, Jill. 🙂
Hi Jill! I’m so happy to have you back again this year! Janie Reinart also won a scholarship and is joining us for the May Writing in Rhyme to WOW Class! We are going to have SO MUCH FUN!
Mary Warth
Thanks for the inspiring start! I am setting up my new notebook now.
🙂
Thank you, Tanja, for the adorable illustrations and uplifting quotes, and thanks for the prompt, Angie. Our little bluebird already has us singing. Sydney O’Neill
🙂 Hugs to you Sydney. T
I know Sydney…isn’t she the cutest little bird!
Great kick-of, Tanja! I saw no evidence of butterflies! 🙂 Looking forward to learning a lot in April!
Michele Katz
Wait until you see what’s coming tomorrow! You will understand the butterflies. 🙂
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I’m glad RhyPiBoMo is back! What I learned last year is finally starting to click & I’m revising a rhyming picture book manuscript.
Looks like this is perfect timing to help you with your revision. You will love RhyPiBoMo. 🙂
I’m SO glad you’re back Marla!
“I’ve learned that People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but People will never forget how you made them feel.
– Maya Angelou
One of my favorite quotes, Angie. Thanks for this positive message to begin the day. Tanja, would you believe your prompt was my first Haiku ever? I guess an old dog can learn new tricks. Great start to RhyPiBoMo!
Joni Klein-Higger
Whooohooo! This month will be filled with lost of great info and inspiration. Hugs
T
Charlotte Dixon
What a perfect start to my day, Tanja! You are one of the kindest and most inspiring people in my life. I am so happy you are a part of my journey. Love the inspiring pearls from Maya and from yourself. I am looking forward to RhyPiBoMo 2015-let the adventure begin!
Oh, Charlotte, right back at you. Thank you so much. I wish you lived closer so I could give you a huge hug. 🙂 T
I’m so happy to see you back my dear friend! I love that you are here and learning about rhyme even if it isn’t your first love…you are an angel! Love you!
A RAINBOW IN THE CLOUD
Bands of color stream
Through clouds dark mood, lifting them
Out of depression.
(c) Charles Waters 2015 all rights reserved.
Pure love. 🙂
Charles…wonderful and thanks for sharing! I’m so happy to have you as an honored Golden Quill Guest Blogger this year! I appreciate your talents and your support!
Thanks, Angie!
Thank you, Tanja, for starting us off with some inspirational quotes. I love the one about having pain, but not being a pain. I might try that out on my 5 year old – we can work on that one together! Thanks to Angie, too, for keeping RhyPiBoMO going again this year. I’m excited to get started on my haiku.
🙂 I loved that quote. I know some people that love complaining incessantly about their pains and woes, but they rarely want to hear anything about other people’s problems. What a great lesson. Have a splendid month. 🙂
So happy to see your smiling face again this year Melanie!
I am excited to try this, a very weak skill on my part, but I do love rhyming books so I hope to learn a lot.
Flexing those rhyming muscles is how they get stronger! Glad you are here!
Maya Angleou is a great choice for the banner. I love both the selected quote and the runner up. Thanks forgetting us started, Tanja!
🙂